Adult Foster Care

Adult Foster Care (AFC) means the provision of food, lodging, protection, supervision, and household services to a functionally impaired adult in a residence. AFC services may also include the provision of personal care, household and living skills assistance or training, medication assistance, and assistance safeguarding cash resources.

There are 2 types of Adult Foster Care (AFC) - family AFC and corporate AFC. An AFC home is considered a family AFC when the license holder lives in the home. An AFC home is considered corporate AFC when the license holder does not live in the home. Currently there is a moratorium (a ban) on the development of corporate AFC homes unless certain exceptions are met. This means that no new licenses may be issued for a physical location that will not be the primary residence of the license holder for the entire period of licensure.

Wright County will accept applications for family AFC homes at any time, however, placements are not guaranteed. In addition, placements are not likely for newly licensed homes unless the license holder has extensive experience and skill working with individuals with disabilities.

Overview of Adult Foster Care:

Adult Foster Care (AFC) is a licensed, sheltered living arrangement for up to four adults with special needs, adults unable to live alone due to their functional impairments. An adult foster care license holder may have a maximum license capacity of five if all persons in care are age 55 or over and do not have a serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability.

AFC homes provide five basic services:

◦Board

◦Household Services

◦Protection

◦Room

◦Supervision

Providers may also assist with medication, management of money, or personal care.

AFC providers receive a monthly payment for the services they provide. This payment is made up of two parts: "room & board" and "services".

Room and Board
This payment may come directly from the AFC resident, or if eligible, a Group Residential Housing grant can assist the AFC resident with some or all of the payment. As of July 1, 2013, the rate is $877 per month.

Services
If the AFC resident has a county social worker or case manager, a Difficulty of Care rate will be determined according to the level of services that the AFC provider will need to provide to the AFC resident. The maximum amount allowed at this time is $459.85.

Many AFC providers accept private pay AFC residents. These AFC residents are not receiving funding through the county because they do not qualify due to their assets, or their families choose to pay for the AFC placement. The rate for services provided to the AFC resident is determined by the AFC provider and the AFC resident/family/legal representative.

Some AFC residents are eligible for certain federal Medicaid waiver programs which fund placement in AFC homes. Note: As of January 1, 2014, a Home and Community-Based Services license (245D-HCBS) will be required in order to provide AFC services to HCBS Waiver recipients, including those on CADI, CAC, DD, and BI waivers.

Find out more about becoming an HCBS Waiver provider. All questions relating to the 245D must be directed to the MN Department of Human Services. For 245D-HCBS licensing standards, send an email. For questions about the 245D-HCBS online application call 651-431-6624.

Qualified payments for the first five qualified placements in a family adult foster care home in a calendar year may be non-taxable. "Private pay" resident payments are taxable. Information regarding tax on AFC payments can be found in IRS Publication 17, Chapter 12, Other Income. All questions about tax on AFC payments must be directed to your tax professional.

Family Adult Foster Care
Based in a family home, the resident is usually unknown at the time of licensure, and AFC residents are most often placed in the home for a long-term placement.

Family Adult Day Services
A program operating fewer than 24 hours per day that provides functionally impaired adults age 18 or older with an individualized and coordinated set of services including:

Health services

Social services

Nutritional services

The services are directed at maintaining or improving the participants' capabilities for self-care. The capacity can be up to eight participants. An AFC license holder can provide FADS services if all of the requirements of MN Statute 245A.143 are met in addition to the AFC requirements; the capacity would be limited to five participants in this case.

Corporate Adult Foster Care
Provided at a site where the license holder does not live in the home. The license holder hires shift staff to care for the residents. At this time, there is a moratorium (ban) on the development of new corporate adult foster care homes. See MN Statute 245A.03, Subdivision 7 for more information.

"A person exempt from licensure under section 245A.03, subdivision 2, who provides adult foster care to a related individual age 65 and older, and who meets the requirements in Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265, may be certified by the county to provide adult foster care. A person certified by the county to provide adult foster care may be reimbursed for services provided and eligible for funding under section 256B.0915, if the relative would suffer a financial hardship as a result of providing care."

"For purposes of this subdivision, financial hardship refers to a situation in which a relative incurs a substantial reduction in income as a result of resigning from a full-time job or taking a leave of absence without pay from a full-time job to care for the client."

Determination of eligibility for relative certification begins with the elderly individual being assessed and qualified for the Elderly Waiver by a screening team social worker. If the above definition of hardship has been met, the screening team social worker will make a referral to the adult foster care licensor. Applicants for relative certification undergo the same initial and renewal processes as applicants for licensure. The agency's decision to certify a person to provide adult foster care to related persons is not subject to appeal.